Mid size sedans have always remained in fashion because these are the cars offering an impressive room with superb handling and affordable price. The segment of the midsize sedan is filled with a number of models as lots of top notch and leading auto manufacturing companies have launched their vehicles in the market for the ease of customers. One of the best and respectable choices in the segment of mid-size sedan is the Subaru Legacy especially for those who are living close to the Snowbelt. For the 2014, Subaru made slight changes to the interior and exterior of the car. The most significant change is that the six cylinder engine is now standard on just one trim, 3.6R Limited Model. The four door five passenger sedan is offered in five well appointed trims, 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Sport, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited.
Appearance
The first impression is the last one and so almost all the auto manufacturing designers are trying to make the appearance of a vehicle appealing and head turning. The 2014 Subaru Legacy gets a sleek and sophisticated exterior styling that is making it similar to any other good family sedan. The Legacy sits lower than the average mid-size sedans and so the Legacy 2014 features automatic headlights and sits on automatic headlights. The upper trims have the same features except fog lights, rearview camera, sunroof, and different wheel choices up to 18 inch.
Interior
Inside the base 2.5I Subaru packed air conditioning, full power accessories, height adjustable driver seat, 60/40 split folding rear seat, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, iPod/USB port, four speaker sound system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack.
The 2.5i Premium trim adds, eight way power driver seat, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seat and six speaker sound system.
The 2.5i Sport adds carbon fiber interior trim, auto-dimming rearview mirror and rearview camera.
Safety Features
The standard safety features include antilock disc brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, stability control and traction control.
Under The Hood
The 2014 Subaru Legacy is available with two engine choices, a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine that delivers 173 horsepower and 174 lb ft of torque. The engine is mated with a six speed manual transmission to the base 2.5I whereas all the other 2.5I models are mated with standard CVT that is optional on the base 2.5i. The EPA estimated transmission with manual transmission is 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway whereas with CVT it is 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
The 3.6R Limited trim get power from a 3.6 liter boxer six cylinder engine that produces 256 horsepower and 247 lb ft of torque. The engine is mated with a five speed automatic transmission with shift paddles. The car accelerates from 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds with an EPA rated fuel economy of 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The acceleration time and fuel economy for this mid-size sedan is below average in its class. All the models of the Subaru Legacy are standard AWD.
Pricing and Availability
The entire lineup of the 2014 Subaru Legacy is priced from $20,295 to $28,895 and the vehicle is available for sale.
Competition
The key rivals include Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat and Mazda Mazda6.
Pros
- Sporty and responsive handling
- Spacious cabin with good cargo room
- Standard AWD
Cons
- Rivals have more acceleration and fuel economy
- Average 2.5i performance
The Verdict
The Subaru Legacy is a good and impressive mid-size sedan with impressive features and affordable price. The Legacy 2014 has an advantage of its brand name Subaru, because Subaru is the only brand that received the recognition from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for the fourth consecutive year because the top safety picks.